On Thursday last week, U.S. transportation officials announced $2.2 billion for local infrastructure projects such as new bridges, roads, bike lanes, railways, and ports across the country, according to a report.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the department received around $13 billion in grant applications, and a total of 166 projects will be funded by the $2.2 billion.
These grants are more than twice the amount versus the $983 million allocated for 90 projects last year. According to the report, the increase comes from a $1 trillion infrastructure law backed by President Joe Biden, which secured $7.5 billion more for the grants over five years.
Buttigieg said the projects would pave the way for modernizing America’s transportation systems.
“This is a program that recognizes many of the most interesting and compelling ideas and designs and plans aren’t going to come from Washington, but more of the funding should,” Buttigieg said. “That’s what we’re delivering here.”
Other newly announced projects in the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program also provide bicycle and pedestrian paths funding.
This story originally appeared on The Associated Press News.